MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is giving the bidders of the P17.5 billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport passenger terminal project until July 15 to secure the necessary licenses for their construction contractors.

DOTC Undersecretary for planning Rene Limcaoco issued Special Bid Bulletin 09-2013 requiring each of their nominated construction contractors to secure a valid and updated license from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).

Limcaoco stated in the bulletin dated May 27 that the license should be for Category AAA or Large B Classification from the PCAB or from an equivalent accreditation institution in the country of origin for foreign companies.

In the absence of an equivalent accreditation institution, he pointed out that the pre-qualified bidders should submit a notarized certification attesting the absence of such accreditation institution.

Limcaoco also said the nominated construction contractors should also be able to present a valid and updated International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 certification or its equivalent as well as ISO 14001 certification or its equivalent.

The prequalified bidders include AAA Airport Partners led by conglomerate Ayala Corp. and Cebu-based Aboitiz Equity Ventures together with Houston airport operator ADC&HAS; Filinvest-CAI Consortium of taipan Andrew Gotianun together with Singaporeâ€™s Changi Airport; Lopez-led First Philippine Airports together with New Zealandâ€™s Infratil Asia Limited.

Other groups include the GMR Infrastructure and Megawide Consortium that includes Indiaâ€™s Delhi Airport; MPIC-JGS Airport Consortium composed of the tandem of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and JG Summit Holdings of tycoon John L. Gokongwei Jr. together with Aeroports de Lyon of France; SM-led Premier Airport Group of retail magnate Henry Sy together with Switzerlandâ€™s Zurich Airport operators; and San Miguel-Incheon Airport Consortium of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. and the operator of South Koreaâ€™s Incheon Airport.

Limcaoco said bidders must submit a copy of the application for renewal as duly received by the relevant accreditation institution in case the license or certification is already expired and if renewal could not be secured.

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